A man trying to run away from a personal tragedy finds out the hard way how much one of his best friends has changed in this action drama. In 2003, Lau Ching-hei (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) and Bong (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are a pair of police… MoreA man trying to run away from a personal tragedy finds out the hard way how much one of his best friends has changed in this action drama. In 2003, Lau Ching-hei (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) and Bong (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are a pair of police detectives who are both partners and close pals. While Bong respects Lau's abilities as a detective, he's wary of his friend's uncertain temper, and he has enough problems of his own to deal with after the suicide of his long-time girlfriend. Three years later, Bong has left the force to become a private investigator and has developed a serious drinking problem, while Lau is one of the top detectives with the Hong Kong police and has married Susan (Xu Jinglei), a respected reporter. Susan and Lau approach Bong and ask him for help with a case -- Susan's father Chow (Yueh Hua) was murdered, and while the team investigating the crime has found two of the men responsible, a third culprit is still at large. Bong agrees to help, but what he and Susan don't know is that Lau is the missing man who helped kill Chow, and he's playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with his fellow police officers as well as his best friend. Also featuring Shu Qi, Emme Wong and Chapman To, Seung Sing (aka Confession Of Pain) was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak and written by Mak and Felix Chong, the same team responsible for the international hit Infernal Affairs.

The Infernal Affairs directorial duo is back with another crime thriller, with heavy stars once more in the main cast. Directores Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak… MoreThe Infernal Affairs directorial duo is back with another crime thriller, with heavy stars once more in the main cast. Directores Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak show a full control of the genre, using a fluid and tight camera movement, they manage once more to keep the audience glued to the screen.
Unlike what many would think in a first view, the film is more about character motivations rather than twists. Both Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro give solid rock performances. Chapman To is fun to watch, as usual, and Shu Qi serves as great eye candy.
All that said the film fells short in it's story, it starts quite interesting, then gets quite redundant, and when the final act comes it hardly has the impact the directors seem to have been trying to achieve. It's a very simple story, but told in an very unecessary convulted way.
Ok and watchable, but very forgettable. Neverless, watch it before the upcoming hollywood-add-water-remake.

Aliyanto Latip

Good script but disappointing execution. The cinematography is excellent. No wonder it won at Hongkong Film Awards!

Sarah Gaish

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A detective helps a friend investigate the mysterious death of her father
Sadly Confession of Pain, is not what I thought it would be at all. For one thing, the story isn't very interesting nor is it orginal. However, Confessions have its strength that makes this movie watchable. Andrew and Alan pairs Tony and Takeshi as two leading actors, where both were reunited again after Wong Kar Wai's cult classic Chungking Express (1994). Tony and Takeshi did not have any crossover in Chungking Express, thus Confessions gives the duo a chance to see if there is any chemistry reaction. There is some chemistry there, that does make this watchable and interesting, sometimes, but it;s the only thing that really makes you watch. It?s no secret to some of my flixster friends, that I didn?t go much on Infernal Affairs, who had the same makers on Confession. I can not empathise what a disappointment this was for me. Mainly I watched it because it had Tony and Takeshi in it.
It's surprising that the story decided to show its hand midway in the movie. While it doesn't exactly provide any definitive answers, by planting that seed of thought in you during its presentation. You're left wondering why, the rationale behind the actions, as well as the filmmakers' deliberate lack of effort of hiding the truth. Bong's character will bring you on that journey of discovery. However, audiences who have seen their fair share of crime stories, will find it pretty easy when figuring out the clues. For instance there?s no clear understanding , at times, that the narrative isn?t following in the linear way that you?re used to. I didn?t realise to the end of the movie that certain things happened because it was at the beginning of the dilm
The editing and the parrarel editing at times, makes it pretty confusing to watch. There are many frames, that are skipped and in some of the scenes, and as I mentioned before there?s not clear ratinal as to what this character is doing. As for camera work, set design, sound, and editing, this movie feels more like a commercial than a feature film. The effect is to cheapen what otherwise might have been great and deep. The same goes for the acting, which seems to have been texted in.
Which is a pity, because everything turned predictable towards the end of the movie narratively. However, stylistically, it is what assisted in keeping the attention on screen. The cinematography is brilliant, capturing moody loss effortlessly in its never ending night shots of the cloudy city, unappealing streets, and empty apartments was engaging to watch but nonetheless I?ve seen better in HK movies before.
The diagetic music is, in some scences a little off putting and doesn?t quite fit with the scene. For instance having, let?s say happier music in a scene which is not happy-just doesn?t make sense at all. I?m sure you know what I mean, music in a film needs to fit with what what you?re watching on screen. Sadly there?s no evidence of that here.
Overall, one of the more disappointing Asian films I?ve seen. Don?t let me put you off the film, as some of you may like it. It?s worth watching for Tony Leung and Takeshi and perhaps some scenery around HK, but nothing more. The plot isn?t very interesting and you don?t really care for the characters by the end of the film. Perhaps if I watched it again, I might change my mind.

Anthony Valletta

Could have been more, but a cut above most thrillers.

Dean McKenna

Fine Hong Kong mystery-murder film like the lost souls in a city of fallen angels, the cop, the private detective, and the killer are doing what they must.

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